Collapsible container



July 20, 1937. w, T. MQQNEY 2,087,353

CQLLAPSIBLE-CONTAINER Filed Aug.,16, 1955 INVENTOR.

Moo/nef Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,087,353 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER William T. Mooney, Cleveland,

Ohio, assigner to 8 Claims.

The present application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 574,715, led November 13, 1931.

l My invention relates, in general, to collapsible containers and more particularly to a collapsible barrel being made up of sections which interlock and covers for the same.

An object of my invention is to provide a container which may be shipped and packed in sections and assembled into a complete container when ready for use, and then collapsed into sections after used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a metal barrel which is composed of a plurality of arcuate sections which may be joined together by interlocking means to form the body of the barrel and covers which will t over the ends of the body of the barrel. v

A further object of my invention is to provideI a cylinder shaped container having a cover which threadably engages the body of the container and which locks against disengagement by projecting bosses and complementary recesses.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cylinder shaped container having spirally mounted ribs interrupted into sections so that one section forms a projection in line with the other section of the rib, the ribs being mounted near the end of the body of the cylinder and a cover -having complementary grooves interrupted into two sections so that one section forms a recess in alignment with the other section of the groove and complementing the projection on the cylinder, that the cover may be threadably engaged upon the cylinder and automatically lockedthereon lby turning the covcrto the extent that the projection or bosses on 'the cylinder engage in the recesses or short sections of grooves in the cover.l .A

A still further object of my invention is to provide a cover for a cylindrical container which has means projecting from the cover fox-engaging a Wrench for the Apurpose of screwing the coveron to the body ofthe container. A

Another object of my invention is to provide Ia plurality/of arcuate container sections which may be engaged along their longitudinal edge by slidably engaging the complementary edges together and so that the resulting joint does not` project outside the circumference of the container to prevent ItheI rolling of the container in use.

A still further object is to provide a joint for the arcuate sections of a cylindrical 'container which comprises amale section and a complementary female section which is engaged by longitudinally sliding the male section into the female section` so as to provide against their disengagement in a circumferential direction.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side view of my container with the arcuate sections joined and the bottom cover screwed in place upon the body of the container,

Figure 2 represents a side View of the top cover, not yet threaded upon the top of the container as shown in Figure 1. The end'covers, as shown in Figure 2, and the end cover engaged in place on the cylinder in Figure 1, are similar,

Figure 3 represents a cross-sectional view through the line 3 3 of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View of the top o-f the container with the cover in place, together with the wrench used for screwing the cover on the container, and

-Figure 5 represents a plan view of the top of the cover shown in Figure 2 with a part of thewrench shown. Y

In` my illustration shown in Figure 1, the body of the container, is composed of section I and vsection 2. The illustration shown in Figure 1 shows only one side of the container in which there are two arcuate sections, section I and section 2. Therefore, there is only one joint I9 shown` by the section I and sectionA 2. 'I'he arcuate sections illustrated are semi-cylindrical but it is to be understood that my invention includ the use of arcuate sections o-f any size so th the total number of sections complete a cylinder.

Details of the joint taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1 are shown in Figure 3, but at this point it can be said-.that the section I and section. 2 are joined by raising one section so that the complementary sections are above one another and then slidably' engaged one with the other. In this manner section I and section 2 are engaged vagainst circumferential stress, though they may be moved relative to each other in a, longitudinal direction.

The ends of the body sections are beaded around the wire to form the beaded edge 20. In this manner the beaded edges of the sections form a substantially rigid and strong portion of the sections. Mounted upon the outside surface of the sections near the ends thereof, are' the threaded ribs. Upon section. I, there is shownb side of the cover ofl 'a rib I5 and a rib I5 whichis interrupted to again appear as the short rib or boss I1 and the short rib or boss |8. These short ribs I1 and I8 are in alignment with the principal portion of the ribs I5 and I6, the short rib I1 being in alignment with the rib I5 and the short rib being in alignment with the rib I8. Upon the upper end of section 2 is shown a rib I3 and a rib I4.. The short ribs or bosses associated with* these ribs. are upon the other side of the container illustrated in Figure 1, and therefore, are not shown. Mounted upon the bottom end of the container illustrated in Figure 1 is the end cover 4. Shown upon the end cover 4 in Figure lis the spiral groove 5 and the spiral groove 8. These grooves are interrupted to form a separate short groove or recess 8 and a separate short groove or recess I8. The short groove 9 is in alignment with the groove 5 and the short groove I is in alignment with the groove 6. There is also shown a groove 1 and a groove 8 spirally mounted upon the cover 4. The corresponding short grooves or recesses in alignment with grooves illustrated container and therfefore, are not shown in Figure 1.

Since the end covers 4 are the same for both ends of the container, the method of mounting the cover upon the joined sections will be discussed in a later place.

Figure 1 shows the end cover mounted upon the bottom end of the container and shows its appearance after being completely mounted.

Figure 2 shows the end cover 4 detached from the container walls and shows, in some detail, the construction of the end cover 4. Spirally mounted upon the end cover 4 are two parallel grooves 1 and 8 which are interrupted to form short grooves or recesses and I2. The short groove II is in alignment with groove 1 and the short groove The short grooves |I and I2 are upon the other 4 and therefore, ,are shown in dotted lines. Alsol spirally moun edV upon the cover 4 are grooves 5 and 8 which are interrupted to formthe short grooves or recesses 9 and I0.

The edge of the container is cut away in such fashion so that the cover 4 `may t down over the container and the grooves 1 and 8 engage with, and slide over, the ribs I5' and I6, and thel short ribs I1 and I8v of the section 'I of the container. The edge of the cover 4- is also cut away onthe farther side so that the ribs 5 and 6 of the cover 4 are engagedfwith, and slide along, the ribs I3 and I4 o'f section 2 of the container. In this'way, the cover 4 may be yplaced over the container and the corresponding grooves and recesses in proper place for engagement by turning the cover in a clockwise direction upon the container.

The top of the cover 4- is depressed in a manthe sunken surface 23 of the cover'.V

ner to form 4 and to leave' an outside peripheral edge 24. Raised above the level of the sunken surface 23 are two projecting portions 2| and 22. `'I'he functions of these projections 2| and 22 are for the' purpose of providing means to engage a wrench 21 and turning the cover 4 upon vthe container as shown in Figure 4.

The purpose of the short ribs which, as shown I1 and` I8 and the .short groove to lock the cover 4 upon the container. This is done by turningl the cover 4 until the interruption between the groove 1 andthe short groove IIv comes in contact with thegl'OOVeS 1 and 8 are upon the other side of the I2 is in alignment with groove 85 L spiral ribs from within vtop surface 23- of until the interruptionbetweenthe groove 8 and 'the short groove I2 comes in contact with the short rib I8. At this point', the cover would be unable to be threaded upon the container to a final point except for the fact that the wall of the cover 4 slightly gives in an outward direction and the wall of tion I slightly by continued turning, slide beyond the interruptions 1 and 8 andthe short grooves g the short ribs I1 and I8 snap into, fill the short grooves and I2.

In a similar way the ribs I3 and I4 engage with 5 and 8 until the short ribs (not shown in Figure 1) which are in alignmentv with ribs I3 and I4, come in contact with the interruptions between the grooves 5 andi and the short grooves 9 and I0'. In'a similar way, the cover 4'is turned until -the short ribs (not shown in Figure 1) which are in' alignment with the ribs I3 and I4, are forced past the interruptions in the grooves 5 and 5' until the short ribs snap into, and fill 9 and III. It is thus to be seen that the cover 4 is securely locked upon the container made up of sections I and 2 in a manner that the cover 4 may not be disengaged from the container except by forcing the short ribs past the interruptions of the grooves in a reverse manner from that described above. Needing considerable force, a wrench is necessary to turn the cover on or off past these interlocking portions. The device acts an an efcient locking means for keeping the cover upon the container. g

Figure 4'is a cross sectional view of the top of the container composed of sections I and 2 and short rib I1, or

a cross sectional view of the cover 4 in place over the top of the container. `As the container is cutaway, we look into the side of the container from the inside, thus showing the back of the the container. In this view, the groove 6 'is slidably engaged with rib I5 and groove 5 is slidably engaged with the rib I5, while groove 8 Iisslidably engaged with the rib I4 and groove 1 is'slidably engaged with the rib I8. The only short rib shown in Figure 4iA is the short rib 26. which engages with, and 'fits into, the short groove I2 of Figure 2. Figure 4 illustrates the method of turning the cover down-upon the container in which the wrench 21 is bent downward at point 28 and straight against the point`29 so as to t into the sunken thecover 4. The wrench 21 holes 20'and 3| which respectively fit over the projections 2| and 22 of the cover 4.

' is shown as shows the wire 25 over which-the beaded edge 20 of section 2 of the container is formed.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the top of the cover 4, showing the groove 5 and the short groove 9 in alignment therewith, and the groove 1 with the short groove II in alignment therewith'. 'The top of the Vedge 24 is shown surrounding the sunken surface 23. A part of the wrench 21 is shown with its two holes 30 and 3| which are fitted over the projections 2| and 22.

`Figure 3 shows in detail, the construction of the' joint between sections I and cross section between the line 3--3 of Figure 1. Themale portion along the longitudinal edge of section I is formed by bending the metal of section I inward towards the radial center of the container at point I8 for a short distance 2 which is a my invention includes the use to point 32; thence substantially parallel with the circumference of the container to point 33, from whence it is bent back parallel to the circumference of the container by leaving a space for the fitting of the female portion of section 2. This male portion of section I is again bent at point 34 back upon itself and runs again parallel to the circumference of the container approximately to the point 35 where it is again bent back upon itself to end at point 33.

The female portion of `section 2 is formed by lbending inward towards the radial center of the container at point I9 to approximately a point 32 whence it is bent parallel to the circumference of, the container towards point 36 whence it is bent back uponl itself around back to point 34, whence it is again bent back upon itself parallel to the circumference of the con.

tainer to point 35 and againv bent inward towards the radial center of the container in a looped fashion and back to terminate at approximately v to point 33.

In this manner, the male portion of section I is firmly engaged within the female portion of section 2 in such a Way as to resist disengagement in a circumferential direction. The male po-rtion of section I is engaged with the female portion of section 2 by placing the joint portion of one section over the joint portion of the other section and introducing the male portion of section I into the female portion of section 2 and then sliding the male portion in a longitudinal direction into the female portion of section 2. Thus, the two sections I and 2 are locked'together and can only become interlocked by moving the sections in a longitudinal direction parallel to each other. The male portion of segn I and the female portion of section 2 both.I pr jec So as to be within the, outside circumstance 3i the container after the sections I and 2 are assembled. In' this way there is no obstacle or hindrance to the rolling of the barrel as the joint between the sections is free from any obstruction upon the outside of the joint.

Each section of the container has a male p0rtlon upon one longitudinal edge and a complementary female portion upon its other longitudi nal edge, so that eachv section may easily be joined to its adjoining section, each female portion being adjacent to the male portion of the ad- 'jacent sectin. While in the illustrated case there are only two sections to the container body, of any number of arcuate sections which will complete a cylinder and each of tl'iese sections will have one longitudinal edge having a male portion and the other longitudinal edge having a complementary female portion.

In practice, I prefer to use metal for my container as it is easily shaped for the purpose explained herein, although other materials may be used. In the use of my invention, the arcuate sections may be made of sheet metal and formed in the usual manner preferably by having the ribs formed in the side of the arcuate sections. These arcuate sections maybe made in quantit packed and shipped in an unassembled condition, thus taking very little storage and shipping space. The two end covers are similar 'to each other` and likewise are made of sheet metal. These, too, are easily stored or shipped in an unassembled condition. In this manner, the parts of my container or barrel can be stored and transported in a very small space and when ready for use may b assembled in the manner heretofore described.

After the container has been used, it may be taken apart and stored in a relatively smallsspace until ready I for use again. The container Awhich I have invented isl not only economical and convenient in itself, but it is economical and con'- venient to store and to transport.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention:

l. A cylinder shaped container comprising a body portion made'up of sections', one longitudinal edge of each section being provided with a male portion projecting toward the radial center of said container, said male portion having an enlarged head and` a relatively narrow neck, Ithe other longitudinal edge of said each section being provided with a complementary female portion projecting toward the radial center of said container, said female portion having an enlarged inner recess and a relatively narrow throat of smaller dimensions than the enlarged Iend of the said male portion, the lateral dimensions of said recess being radial of said container, the said male por tion and the said female portion being formed by folding the respective longitudinal edges, the

tions so that said sections are restrained against disengagement in a longitudinal direction.

2. A barrel shaped container comprising a longitudinal direction, the joined hook portions being disposed substantially below the outside Y circumferential surface of the container so as to permit rolling of the container, and the two end particularity, it is understood covers being adapted to threadably engage the assembled sections so that said sections are re- Jstrained against disengagement in a longitudinal direction.

3. A cylinder shaped container having a body and end covers, the said body and the saidend covers having a complementary spiral rib and recess for threadably engaging the said end covers over the ends of the body, the Said spiral rib and recess being interrupted into two separate portions each by a third portion extending between the two said portions, said third portion v being on the same cylindrical surface as the said two separate' portions being of than the longer adjacent other parts of said body and said cover, unequal length, the shorter of said unequal portionsbeing positioned nearer the ends of said container of said unequal portions and being adapted. to interlock at said portions nearer the ends of the said container than ual portions, the combination of the being 4such be'threaded on the respective .ends of the body and forcibly threaded over and past the' interruptions in the ribs and recesses. thus holding the covers onthe body so as to resist disengagement. L

4. A cylindrical sheet metal barrel or container comprising arcuate portions provided with interlocking sunken jointslongitudinally slidable upon each other, one oi said interlocking sunken joints being extended substantially the length of said arcuate sections so that said'sunken joints may Y be placed end to end and slidably engaged in a 'Y grooves,

comprising arcuate portions provided longitudinal direction, and a cover and base therefor for holding said portions against disengagement in a longitudinal direction, said base portions being proribs and in ralinement y for holding the bese and coverv portions, said automatic interlocking means being separate, and at a and grooves.`

5. A cylindrical sheet metal barrel or container with inslidable distance, from said ribs sunken joints longitudinally upon each other, and a cover and base for holding said portions against disengagement in a longitudinal direction, said base and cover and the arcuate portions being provided with complementaryspiral ribs and grooves, and automatically interlocking means in alignment terlocking said spiral ribs and grooves for holding the base and cover on the assembled arcuate portions,

said interlocking means being separate, and at.

a distance, from said ribs and grooves and being positioned nearer the ends of said container than the said ribs and grooves, said spiral ribs and grooves at the opposite ends of said container having at lateral sides opposed to each other. 6.. In a cylindrical barrel or container, a

and a detachable base and cover therefor, said body being composed of a plurality of arcuate sections engageable along their longitudinal edges by longitudinally sliding said sections together to form said body, said body being provided with spaced groups of spiral ribs at each end thereof,

' tioned nearer lto form said'body portion,

said

spiral grooves, at each end being positioned at different levels to permit successive engagement of the groups of ribs and grooves at dierent levels, and automatically interlocking bosses and r in spiral alignment with said ribs and grooves, said bosses and recesses being separate, and at a distance, from said ribs and grooves and being posithe said ribs and'gro'oves.

'1. A collapsible composed of arcuate substantiallysimilar secwith a complementary female portion similarly formed from said edge','the edges of opposed sections being interlocked with each other, thelateral dimension of said interlocked edges bebelw the outer circumference4 of said barrel, one of the said portions being extended the length of said barrel so that the sections may .be joined together by placing the said portions in alignment and sliding them together ina longitudinal direction, and similarly constructed end members adapted to engage the ends of said sections for the said vengagement and for closing barrel. 4

8. A barre the ends of said shaped .container comprising -a sections, one longitudiprovided with a which lies belowthe external surface of that ,portionof each of the sections adjacent to the portion having tively narrow neckl and being formed by folding the said longitudinal edge, the other longitudinal edge of each section being provided with a complementary ceiving said male portion, said female portion having an enlarged inner recess and 'a relatively narrow longitudinalv opening of smaller dimensions than the enlarged end of the said male portion, said longitudinal opening being disposed internally of the container, land being formed by folding the said edge, the arrangement of the said male the said lfemale'portion being such that the sections are joined together and are locked together against' disengagement in a circumferential direction.

` l T. MOONEY.

barrel, in combination, a body' base and cove-r being provided with complementary groups of radially andinwarmy orsaid barrel y female portion for longitudinally re- 

